Hidden Gem

Whoever said bacon makes everything better has obviously never eaten at Belmont Vegetarian, a diminutive and distinct eatery nestled in the first floor of a three-decker on a bustling, sloping corner of Bell Hill.

Between the plentiful vegan and vegetarian dishes and the island-inspired flavors, coming in for lunch will not leave you wondering, “Where’s the beef?”

At Belmont Vegetarian, 157 Belmont St., the term vegetarian is about more than taking advantage of a trendy buzzword-turned-lifestyle that continues to grow in popularity. Instead, for owner Stephen Jones, it’s an homage to his mother, how he grew up and a way of life to which many in his current neighborhood can relate.

“I was raised in poor circumstances and meat was expensive,” he says. “My mom did the best she could with what she had and meat wasn’t always an option, so she raised me to be a vegetarian through no fault of her own.”

Whoever said bacon makes everything better has obviously never eaten at Belmont Vegetarian, a diminutive and distinct eatery nestled in the first floor of a three-decker on a bustling, sloping corner of Bell Hill.

Between the plentiful vegan and vegetarian dishes and the island-inspired flavors, coming in for lunch will not leave you wondering, “Where’s the beef?”

At Belmont Vegetarian, 157 Belmont St., the term vegetarian is about more than taking advantage of a trendy buzzword-turned-lifestyle that continues to grow in popularity. Instead, for owner Stephen Jones, it’s an homage to his mother, how he grew up and a way of life to which many in his current neighborhood can relate.

“I was raised in poor circumstances and meat was expensive,” he says. “My mom did the best she could with what she had and meat wasn’t always an option, so she raised me to be a vegetarian through no fault of her own.”

If you have ever spent a night out on Shrewsbury Street, you know there’s a large, diverse menu of food from which to choose. During fall days, you can squeeze into the hectic — let’s say intimate — seating at the Flying Rhino or enjoy a drink at the underrated bar at 111 Chop House.

For many, though, including yours truly, nothing compares to the sweet sounds of salsa music on a breezy afternoon while biting into a delicious slice of flan.

Walking into Café Reyes, 421 Shrewsbury St., you are instantly ensconced in Cuban culture. The brightly colored walls of the entryway to the café percolate your imagination while your ears are filled with the rich sounds of Prince Royce, a successful bachata singer.

Where Dante’s Restaurant used to stand, brilliant colors, blue suede chairs and picture frames capturing the streets of Cuba mingle with the enticing and formidable fragrance of freshly chopped herbs. Café Reyes, opened in January, seems to be the perfect slice of Little Havana.

Known for its countless restaurants and diverse set of foodie residents, Worcester has for the past 10 months been given a glimpse into the culture of Southern hospitality through the flavorful and hearty dishes of Addie Lee’s Soul Food Restaurant, 596 Main St. — a place many are calling a “home away from home.”

Giselle Rivera-Flores / For Worcester Sun

Addie Lee’s Soul Food, at the corner of Main and Austin streets, opened last November.

Inside the bright space with the large windows wrapping the corner eatery, and stretched fully across the open-floor concept, stands a line of patrons bombarding the counter with countless lunch orders.

“The sweet potatoes are to die for,” says Krysten Demello, an early and loyal customer of Addie Lee’s. Krysten and her friend Stephanie Reynolds-King explain their love of the homestyle cooking and the satisfaction they feel after eating a dish for lunch. “If you try anything today, let it be the yams,” they say.

Hidden Gem is a regular feature spotlighting local businesses you may not know about. What’s your Hidden Gem? Let us know at info@worcester.ma or in the comment section below.

Let’s face it, everyone has a list.

You’re out with friends, chatting with colleagues, discussing the day with your significant other. Someone says, “Hey, you know a place we should try?” What follows is added to your mental list of places you should visit.

It can be a restaurant, specialty store, salon — anywhere, really.

About The Sun

Worcester.ma, the digital home of the Worcester Sun, a startup news organization dedicated to providing the best journalism in Worcester.
With more than 400 years of professional journalism experience, our contributors make sense of the news that matters to Worcester.

In Case You Missed It

Many people have asked us about news we’ll be covering, but an equal number have asked questions about how the Sun’s website, worcester.ma, will work. Here are the answers to the most frequently asked questions:
Are you a paid site?